Defense Intelligence Agency

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Formed in 1962, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an organization in the United States Department of Defense. In an ideal world, its responsibilities include those intelligence activities that are of principally military interest but not clearly associated with one military service, intelligence support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and participating in the process of producing United States intelligence community (IC) national estimates and other high-level analysis. As of March 2009, the Director is LTG Ronald Burgess, U.S. Army. The DIA director is "dual hatted" as the commander of the Joint
Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

The Agency is led by a three-star general or flag officer with a senior civilian executive as deputy. The Chief of Staff is a senior civilian executive who oversees the operations of the staff of the headquarters element. There is a Command Staff, but DIA’s intelligence analysis and production capabilities are located in three directorates.

Analysis

Operations

Policy Support

DIA Organization

There are also Directorates for Information Systems and Administration, as well as the Joint Military Intelligence College.

The DIA Director, currently Army LTG Michael Maples, also heads the United States Strategic Command (USSOCOM) Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).[2] According to Maples, the JFCC is “a place to operate at the defense level with national capabilities, but more importantly to respond to the needs of combatant commanders,” he said. It allows intelligence planners to align defense intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations from a global perspective, leveraging DIA’s collection-management experience and capabilities. Historically, USSTRATCOM and its predecessors operated high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft such as the U-2 Dragon Lady, various large airborne SIGINT and MASINT aircraft such as the RC-135 RIVET JOINT and RC-135 COBRA BALL, and now high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles such as the RQ-4A Global Hawk. Note that the National Reconnaissance Office retains responsibility for operating ISR systems in space. USSTRATCOM provides the operational view and the DIA provides the combat support view of the closely related ISR assets.

It is worth considering the information architecture before going into the work of the Command Staff and the Directorates.

Architecture

During a crisis, the formal flow for intelligence requirements from all echelons in support of joint operations is through the National Military Joint Intelligence Center (NMJIC) — the focal point for all Defense Intelligence crisis operations and activities. [4]

Defense Intelligence Architecture

The Unified Commands’ Joint Intelligence Centers (JICs) and Joint Intelligence Support Elements (JISEs), subordinate to task-organized Joint Task Forces (JTFs), are the principal organizations that support joint warfighting at the operational and tactical levels.

Within a UCC, the JIC concept fuses into a one-stop shopping center for intelligence support. A particular JIC cannot be expected to satisfy every intelligence requirement completely; however, it can coordinate support, and draw on resources, from other intelligence organizations above and below its echelon. Because the JIC is the focal point for intelligence operations, the JIC may draw upon additional resources (including military reserves) in coordination with the Joint Staff, DIA and the military services. A subordinate joint force, when established, forms a JISE as a tailored subset of the theater JIC. JISEs are established to meet the particular needs of subordi-nate joint forces and therefore do not replicate every facet of JIC operations.[4]

Command Staff

The headquarters or command element of DIA consists of several staffs and offices. For the Director’s Defense Intelligence Community responsibilities, the Director, Military Intelligence Staff (DM), provides plans, policies, and programs to manage the resources that support the Defense Intelligence Agency, Services, and Unified Commands. This management or coordination of pro-grams includes the General Defense Intelligence Program (GDIP) and part of the Joint Military Intelligence Program (JMIP). DM also provides support to the Military Intelligence Board (MIB) and manages the Reserve forces assigned to Defense Intelligence. The Plans, Programs, and Operations Staff (PO) is responsible for internal planning and programming, liaison with Congress, the press and the public, and foreign attaches.

The Command Element’s immediate support staff is the Executive Secretariat (ES). ES provides administrative, staff and service support to the Command Element; facilitates effective communications/sup-port links between and among the Command Element and all subordinate line and staff elements; and maintains and manages the Agency-wide Automated Tasking System.The Command Element also contains key offices for legal, fiscal, and oversight responsibilities.

J-2 versus Director of DIA functions

There is a legally and bureaucratically complex relationship among DIA and the Joint Staff. Any senior level military staff, the Joint Staff certainly among them, has an intelligence directorate. The problem comes from the National Security Act of 1947, which created the Joint Staff, but strictly limited its size. Other directorates tend not to be as large as intelligence (J-2), because they are fed by the planning, operations and logistics staffs of Unified Combatant Commands and other organization. The J-2 function, however, has a national-level production function and needs a larger staff, larger than could be accommodated within the Joint Staff limits.[5]

Some of the factors that led to intelligence reorganizations in the National Security Act of 1947 were Congressional investigations into C3I that lead to the surprise of the Battle of Pearl Harbor "Operational and intelligence work required centralization of authority and clear-cut allocation of responsibility," the joint committee wrote. The National Security Act of 1947 was the first step toward reordering an outmoded system, but it focused on general military organization and the structure of national intelligence, but not specifically military intelligence.

In WWII, the JCS had a Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) within the Joint Staff, rather than the "J-2" directorate that would be typical of a high-level staff. Its purpose had been to furnish "agreed military intelligence" in various forms to other agencies of the JCS and represent them on the Allied wartime Combined Intelligence Committee. The JIC did not unify military intelligence components, and it failed to produce composite national intelligence estimates.[5]

"joint intelligence" was actually a synthesis of departmental intelligence. Thus, to carry out this mission, the Joint Intelligence Group (JIG) in existence since 1948, had become the J-2 Directorate of the Joint Staff. In reality, however, the size limitations of the J-2 forced it to delegate much of the support responsibility to the Services. The major problem with this arrangement was that neither the J-2 nor the Services could resolve the differences that developed among the Military Departments. [5]

The Hoover Commission of 1948 examined the overall national security apparatus, and observed the "National Military Establishment", or the "unified" organization that did not yet have a single strong leader. It lacked "centralized authority" which "should be placed firmly in the Secretary of Defense." This would lead to the Defense Reorganization Act of 1949, which strengthened the authority of the SecDef, although the present system would wait for the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1996.

Moreover, "... the continuance of intense interservice rivalries hampers and confuses sound policy at many points. One of our greatest needs is to elevate military thinking to a plane above individual service aims and ambitions." As for the JCS, they were described as "... too remote from related groups ..." such as the National Security Council and the CIA. "... A spirit of teamwork must govern interagency intelligence relationships." The committee observed that the small size of the JIG led to:

Each Service prepared its own estimate of the threat to U.S. security. These estimates were often self-serving in that they supported the Service's positions on roles and missions, weapon systems, etc. There was no single, authoritative military estimate.

There was considerable duplication of effort, not only in what was being produced but also in the collection area.

Neither the JCS nor the Secretary of Defense had an accurate picture regarding the total allocation of military intelligence resources.

The Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 stemmed from a widespread belief in the 1950's that the Defense Department needed major revision to provide for more effective, efficient, and economical administration, to eliminate duplication, and to encourage more comprehensive policies and programs. The intelligence system was not "in consonance with the objectives of the 1958 Act" which specified strengthening the channels of command from the President to the "combatant forces." Thus, the 1958 Act resolved several asymmetries concerning the "vague authority" of the Secretary of Defense. The Act removed all doubts about the Secretary's authority and placed the JCS in the chain of command, particularly in terms of responsibility for intelligence support to the Unified and Specified Commands. Overall, the Act extended the centralization processes underway in DoD since 1947.

J-2 created, 1959

In November 1959, seven directorates (J-1 through J-6, plus a directorate for military assistance) had been established in the JCS, including J-2, Directorate for Intelligence. The Joint Staff expanded from 210 to 400 officer billets for the seven directorates as one of the provisos of the 1958 Defense Reorganization Act.

Upon taking office in 1961, Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, conveyed his decision to establish a Defense Intelligence Agency in an 8 February memorandum to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Significantly, his deputy's recommended method of implementation, that is, an "evolutionary process," was incorporated into the final plan for activating DIA. This included assuming all responsibilities of the J-2 of the JCS.

In 1961, the SecDef created DIA with a directive, which stated DIA's primary operational responsibilities, according to the directive establishing it, were: [6] fell within nine general areas. The table below describes these areas, and contrasts them with 2008 missions.

1961 mission

2008 mission

[2] provide the Secretary of Defense (to whom DIA would report through the JCS)), his assistants, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, DoD agencies, the Unified and Specified Commands, the Military Departments, and other organizations in the United States intelligence community with military intelligence

DIA shall serve as the DoD lead for coordinating intelligence support to meet COCOM requirements; lead efforts to align analysis, collection, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities with all operations; and link and synchronize Military, Defense, and National Intelligence capabilities.

[1]produce and provide all DoD estimative and current intelligence, and establish and maintain the DoD indications center

(7)Enter into military and military-related intelligence agreements and arrangements with foreign governments and other entities. Manage foreign visits and support foreign defense attaché corps interaction with senior DoD officials

(4)Design, implement, and operate a secure information technology (IT) infrastructure and an assured data environment of the all-source intelligence enterprise.

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(8)Operate the Joint Military Intelligence Training Center (JMITC), Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS), Joint Intelligence Virtual University (JIVU), and National Defense Intelligence College (NDIC).

--

(9)Serve as the JRIP Program Manager; plan, implement, and integrate the JRIP throughout the Department of Defense.

--

(10) Defense Intelligence Operations Coordination Center (DIOCC). Operate the DIOCC to plan, prepare, integrate, direct, synchronize, and manage continuous full-spectrum Defense Intelligence operations and other functions in accordance with the Secretary of Defense guidance in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Messages conveying the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Execute Order (JIOC EXORD) (Reference (e)) and the DIOCC EXORD (Reference (f)), as well as Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (g)), or as otherwise directed.

DIA and the J-2--1961-1991

The J-2, until its abolishment on 28 June 1963, depended fully upon DIA's Office of Estimates to provide substantive intelligence. During this period, formal JCS actions (such as the review of the operations and contingency plans of the Unified and Specified Commands) continued to be staffed by the J-2, while the Office of Estimates directly received spot intelligence requirements from the commands.

Moreover, the Office of Estimates became immediately responsible (in 1961) for producing Defense estimates which were forwarded to the Board of National Estimates (i.e., under the Director of Central Intelligence). Before DIA, the J-2 had merely coordinated the Services' contribution. Reluctant to break with long established procedures, the Services continued to independently submit some of their estimates directly to the Board of National Estimates until 1963, when the practice was ended.

DIA revised its charter, DoD Directive 5105.21, on 24 June 1963, to provide for the continuation of intelligence staff support to the JCS following the J-2 disestablishment on 28 June 1963. While the J-2 had existed, DIA had been charged with providing the JCS with military intelligence and discharging such intelligence functions as the JCS assigned.

Recharter, 1970

By 1970, successive years of internal and external critiques, inspections, and conjecture concerning the DIA raison d'etre had nurtured the presumption that a DIA charter revision was necessary. Central to the arguments for charter revision was the chain-of-command issue. In his 23 December l970 memo, Secretary of Defense Laird believed it necessary to clarify the relationship of DIA to the Secretary of Defense and the JCS:

The Director, Defense Intelligence Agency will report directly to the Secretary of Defense in the conduct and performance of his duties. The chain of command shall run from the Secretary of Defense to the Director, DIA. Guidance to the Director, DIA, shall be furnished by the Secretary of Defense and the United States Intelligence Board. The Director, DIA, will support the intelligence and counterintelligence requirements of the JCS as in the past. A separate J-2 organization within the OJCS will not be established.

1976 Reorganization

In 1976, a DIA-wide reorganization, established a bicameral organization and recast the Deputy Director's position as Vice Director for Plans, Operations and Support (VO). The J-2 Support Office (JS), a former CS/DP function, was subordinated under VO.

DIA Director Lieutenant General Samuel Wilson characterized organizational changes in 1977 as "refinements to increase effectiveness." Consequently, the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff positions were reestablished to enhance command and control, and coordination of Agency activities. The J-2 Support Office was realigned and the Director's Staff Group was expanded to provide improved support to OSD and JCS consumers.

1979 Reorganization

Another reorganization in August 1979, consolidated the Assistant Vice Directorate for Current Intelligence (DN), the Strategic Warning Staff (SWS), and the J-2 Support Office (JS) into a new Assistant Directorate for JCS Support (JS). It combined current intelligence production with the more traditional liaison and support functions generally provided by the J-2. The changes enabled DIA to focus on the operational intelligence needs of the JCS and satisfy them on a more timely basis.

JS becomes J-2

In retrospect, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger had told Congress in 1974, "As a Defense agency, DIA had a responsibility to provide intelligence support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Abolishment of the J-2 organization, per se, had no effect on DIA's clearly defined role to support the Joint Chiefs. However, it eventually raised some doubt in regard to DIA's role within the Joint Staff itself. I am happy to say that this functional uncertainty has been removed, and that the Director, DIA, is so fully involved--personally and organizationally--as the J-2 of the Joint Staff." In 1991, the JS organization was redesignated J-2.

Directorate for Intelligence Production

Under the Directorate for Intelligence Production (DI), the Operational Intelligence Crisis Center (OICC) manages crisis-related military intelligence production, including joint intelligence preparation of the battlespace.

uncertainties concerning the enemy, environment, and terrain for all types of operations.
Intelligence preparation of the battlespace builds an extensive database for each potential
area in which a unit may be required to operate. The database is then analyzed in detail to
determine the impact of the enemy, environment, and terrain on operations and presents it
in graphic form. Intelligence preparation of the battlespace is a continuing process. Also
called IPB.

— JP1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

DI also produces or manages the production of all-source military intelligence to support the operational, planning, and policy requirements of the U.S. armed forces, as well as the Services, the Unified Combatant Commands, DoD policymakers, and national-level agencies. As the DoD Production Functional Manager, DI ensures that DoD intelligence production requirements are articulated and resources are programmed and executed in consonance with Defense and national guidance. Production programs are also re-evaluated as missions, technical capabilities, and threat environments change.

DI’s analytic expertise includes military capabilities, scientific and technical, missile, medical, estimative, military production and geography, intelligence databases, and operational support and targeting intelligence for tactical, theater, and national consumers.

Missile intelligence

The Missile and Space Intelligence Center (Huntsville, AL) is a DIA activity primarily concerned with missiles of tactical range.

Medical intelligence

The Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center is the focal point in the Department of Defense for compiling all-source intelligence and producing finished medical intelligence on foreign military and civilian medical capabilities, the health status of foreign military forces,
infectious disease and environmental health risks, and scientific and technical
developments in biotechnology and biomedical subjects.[7] It also
manages the medical aspects of the DoD Foreign Materiel Program (see technical intelligence)

Targeting intelligence

Originally an Air Force program usually called the Strategic Vulnerability Branch, which grew to a full Directorate of Targeting in Air Force Intelligence, DIA eventually took over responsibility for a database called the Bombing Encyclopedia. A criticism of this work is that it focused only on blast damage and did not consider the thermal effects of nuclear weapons, [8] but the document dealt with both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons.

Directorate of Operations

DIA, through the Directorate of Operations, also serves as the [[United States intelligence community] Executive Agent for measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) and the DoD MASINT collection manager.

The other operational activity is directing and managing DoD-wide intelligence collection requirements in support of national and theater consumers and the centralized direction and management of the DoD HUMINT Service (DHS), including operation of the Defense Attache System (DAS).

Directorate for Policy Support

To address the needs of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and other national-level policymakers, the Directorate for Policy Support (DP) provides direct intelligence support through DIA’s senior analysts, the Defense Intelligence Officers (DIOs), as well as managing special access programs. Additionally, DP provides assistance with foreign disclosure and agreements.